At the first emergency Claudio Love came out faces. The family of his wife caught him in 2009 "Being in love" with the young (in his words) and had to pay a fine of 2.500 MZN (about 80 EUR) so in legal terms is considered "use and enjoyment" of the property of others. She was pregnant. The property in this case is the daughter and future son in law payor that this outlay is committed to making a second and more important payment called "Lebolo" (proposal of marriage). Stated practice, the "purchase" of a woman and children by a man.
The family of his wife caught him in 2009 "Being in love" with the girl and had to pay a fine of 2.500 MZN
After the fine, "I take my wife to live with her family and I made a list of Lebolo". A list in which her parents seeking compensation for the departure of his daughter and left in debit. Until that debt is paid off she and her children are the property of their parents and if she wants to leave the marital home can do.
Claudio has been saving a little each month until nearly three years later has collected enough money to pay off your debt. What you asked? asked, and the man who has spent months filling the piggy bank run loose me what you have paid: "I bought a kid, a suit with shoes and tie for Father, a suit with sneakers for mother, one case of soda, a case of beer, five liters of wine, two liters of Nipa (local firewater), 5 Rolling snuff packages, 500 MZN (15 EUR) and six transport guests (70 meticais per person)”. That's what Claudio has cost be "owner" of your family.
Our parents and grandparents paid 1 meticai in Lebolo "
"In Vilanculos tradition says are 500 MZN, but in Quelimane, which is where I come, are 300 ", I explained Cidalia. And that inflation is much altering prices. "Our parents and grandparents paid 1 meticai in Lebolo ", Ana Paula account. It all depends on what prompted her family, there is no fixed rule. Then came the marriage, if done according to African tradition, is a party nearly impossible for everyone humble. "You have to tell the whole family. Are advised to at least two years in advance to come all the guests and you have to save a lot of money. You have to kill an ox, buy a lot of wine, lots of food, can cost 100.000 meticais ", says Cidalia. That means nearly three years salary for many people.
Here again the times are changing and traditions are mixed with the practicality of the global village. "In big cities like Maputo there are couples who marry going to civil registration, signing the papers and making an intimate meal at home ". Field is, in areas where there is still the purest tradition, where a wedding should preserve the established customs that show that Africa is governed more by custom than by the Civil Code.
Could the Spanish custom of weddings where guests groom cut briefs
It is sometimes difficult to write about this place without falling into judgments and prejudices. Cultural differences are sometimes huge. I can only say that none of the people I spoke of Lebolo, and are more than they appear in this text, made a single complaint or seemed strange tradition in which the property is purchased from a woman and some children. Probably appears sharper than it is, but that's how I was explained.
I have made several items that I called "The African Macondo" by linking the concept to magical realism happens here. They narrate situations or surprising stories that happen to me in Mozambique. Then, at times, I think the blog of a Mozambican who arrives in Spain and titled "The European Macondo". It could speak of a party in Spain in which thousands of people pounce on a fence at night, from which emerges a goddess on a platform that load many men and children nearing flying by the heads of the people to be blessed by the goddess of ceramic; or you could talk about another party in which thousands of people are, many drunk, front of a herd of wild bulls that leaves injured and occasionally killed, or could explain the custom of Spanish weddings where guests groom cut briefs, they burn a little and chop to be sold among the guests, with the also cut bride league (This post would give many visits if you put a video dancing all Paquito Chocolatier and inebriated guests). I guess it's just a barrier Macondo from which to contemplate the strange other.
